Kendall/MIT Infill and Small Developments

Gameguy326

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MIT to construct new, cutting-edge Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel
Largest, most advanced U.S. academic tunnel will replace 79-year-old facility; Boeing is project’s lead donor with philanthropic commitment.


http://news.mit.edu/2017/mit-construct-new-cutting-edge-wright-brothers-wind-tunnel-1113


Bill Litant

MIT has announced it will replace its venerable 79-year-old Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel with a new facility that will be the largest and most advanced academic wind tunnel in the United States.

To facilitate construction of the new tunnel and ongoing operations, Boeing has made a funding pledge to become the $18-million-project’s lead donor. Boeing’s gift reflects a century-long relationship between the company and MIT that helped ignite the global aerospace industry, and it confirms a commitment to research and development that will fuel future innovation.
Like its predecessor, the new tunnel will be operated by the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and it will retain the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel name.

The new tunnel will:

-permit increased test speeds, from the current 150 miles per hour to 200 miles per hour;

-greatly improve research data acquisition;

-halve the power requirements of the original 2,000 horsepower fan motor;
increase test section volume from 850 cubic feet to 1,600 cubic feet, and test section area from 57 square feet to 80 square feet;

-improve ability to test autonomous vehicles (“drones”) and aerodynamic components including wings, bodies, and wind turbines; and
enable new MIT classes in advanced aerodynamics and fluid mechanics.

The new Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel will be situated in the same location as its predecessor. Building 17, which is located to the right of the tunnel and contains its controls, will have a new structure added to the rear for an elevator and access bridge to AeroAstro’s Neumann Hangar.

More in the article. Architect seems to be Imai Keller Moore Architects.

 

bigpicture7

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Re: MIT New Wind Tunnel

^ this whole alleyway running from Bldg. 9 to MIT.nano is being revitalized (also, btw, is getting new pavement and landscaping/hardscaping...it had been a concrete abyss for 80+ years). It had gotten quite run down up until now. Now they're doing serious refurb to all of these key (and historically relevant labs). Very nice.

We've been inconsistent about which of these projects get their own thread on aB. The Bldg 31 job was quite extensive and didn't have a thread (not saying we needed one). I dunno, I guess it's hard to decide and maybe not everyone on aB is interested...

But for those who are, it's an exciting set of projects.
 

Galactic

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Re: MIT New Wind Tunnel

MIT could just use the existing wind tunnel at the corner of Broadway and 3rd street.
 

BeeLine

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Gameguy326

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

This is not west campus, this is central campus. Why not just "MIT campus infill/small projects"? Maybe merge it with the power plant expansion, which is also not West, but North campus.
 

Gameguy326

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

This right here is why you'll never see rapid transit on the Grand Junction.
Disagree; a slow-moving rapid transit is still very possible in this region. It'll still be worth it because it will be faster than walking and have a very direct route - and it can go faster, say, down Cambridgeport / East Cambridge. It only has to go slow for a short stretch.

Also, I'll ask again - Calling Mr./Ms. Mod, please re-name this MIT Central Campus instead of West campus. Thank you!
 

FitchburgLine

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

This right here is why you'll never see rapid transit on the Grand Junction.
EMUs and trolleys can coast through electrification gaps. It’s not the hardest clearance problem in the world
 

JeffDowntown

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

This right here is why you'll never see rapid transit on the Grand Junction.
Don't be silly. That is a problem money can fix. Wave a big enough check and you get MIT to relocate the cooling towers and reserve oil tanks to either side of Building 42, the cogen plant, taking out one of two dumpy old buildings along Vassar Street (Building 41 or 43).

Or put the track in trench through that stretch.
 

bigpicture7

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

Calling Mr./Ms. Mod, please re-name this MIT Central Campus instead of West campus. Thank you!
Agree the thread name needs to be changed. West campus refers to west of mass ave.

I would just suggest "MIT Campus Infill and Small Projects"...
No need to have multiple threads for MIT small projects
 

Gameguy326

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

Agree the thread name needs to be changed. West campus refers to west of mass ave.

I would just suggest "MIT Campus Infill and Small Projects"...
No need to have multiple threads for MIT small projects
I agree, especially since technically the power plant is north campus.
 

tangent

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

Don't be silly. That is a problem money can fix. Wave a big enough check and you get MIT to relocate the cooling towers and reserve oil tanks to either side of Building 42, the cogen plant, taking out one of two dumpy old buildings along Vassar Street (Building 41 or 43).

Or put the track in trench through that stretch.

What height would overhead lines have to be? Pictures might not be doing the height clearance justice.
 

BeeLine

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Re: MIT West Campus infill and small projects

Agree the thread name needs to be changed. West campus refers to west of mass ave.

I would just suggest "MIT Campus Infill and Small Projects"...
No need to have multiple threads for MIT small projects
It looks like Mass Ave is the dividing line according to the attached.
https://web.mit.edu/vrtour/n1_index.html
I always thought the DOME was the dividing axis. "MIT Campus Infill and Small Projects" sounds good to me.
 

Gameguy326

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It seems that they're going all-in on moving arts to west campus - theater arts, the music building, and they're proposing moving the architecture and urban planning departments there too.
 

stefal

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It seems that they're going all-in on moving arts to west campus - theater arts, the music building, and they're proposing moving the architecture and urban planning departments there too.
:( I like where they currently have architecture & urban planning... SA+P has become more interdisciplinary, so having it at a central location makes more sense than a separate building across Vassar Street...
 

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